Bayelsa State government yesterday vowed to sue the federal government if it refuses to deduct the 13 percent derivation component of the $1bn Excess Crude Account Funds (ECA) it plans to withdraw to tackle insecurity in the country.
Governor Seriake Dickson had demanded the 13 percent derivation component of the funds should be deducted and deployed in the oil-producing states to address the peculiar security challenges in the region.
The state government was said to have formally presented its position to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is also the Chairman of the National Economic Council.
Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, maintained the government remains adamant on its request.
Iworiso-Markson quoted Dickson, as explaining withdrawing the $1bn without deducting and paying the 13 percent derivation to the oil-producing states would amount to arm-twisting them to make double contributions to the security funds.
He said: “The governor said that wholesome withdrawal of the funds inclusive of the 13 percent derivation would mean that the oil producing states would be making double contributions because they would be contributing their allocations like all other states and then the 13 percent derivation constitutionally provided for to address security and other pressing needs in the states.
“The governor had stressed that while Bayelsa was not opposed to the withdrawal of the funds to enhance national security, the utilisation of the funds involving the armed forces, intelligence services and police must cover every part of the country”.
He added: “The Bayelsa State Government will approach the court to enforce deduction of the 13 percent derivation component from the $1 billion ECA funds, which the federal government claims it plans to withdraw to tackle insecurity.
“Our position remains the same: while the state government is not opposing the planned withdrawal of the funds for security and indeed the general well-being of the society, it would be unfair and unjust to pull out the funds without releasing the 13 percent to the oil- producing states.
The commissioner went on: “An arrangement that compels a group of states to contribute twice to the fund while their counterparts contribute only part of their statutory allocation cannot be said to be just.
“The constitution is clear on this and we shall approach the court to advocate our position.
“Bayelsa is in support of the withdrawal of the funds to improve the capacity of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies to protect Nigeria and her citizens is not in doubt but we are insisting that the right thing must be done.
“He said that Bayelsa like all other states of the federation would like to know what component of these security procurements would directly benefit the security architecture in the state.”
“He had said that only such an arrangement would suffice in addressing the widespread fears already expressed by various bodies and individuals in the country”.
